Lahore High Court Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial on Tuesday declared elections of the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) illegal except for the post of president. The chief justice further held that the POA, if so inclined might conduct fresh elections for the remaining seats. The chief justice passed the order on a petition filed by Nadeem Aftab Sindhu through his counsel Munawar-us- Salam and Usman Sahi challenging appointments made by the newly elected president of Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) on various offices. The petitioner had argued that he had filed nomination papers for the slot of general secretary in POA elections held on February 4 but he was not allowed to enter the election meeting.
The petitioner maintained that after the announcement of election for the office of president,the entire election process was declared to be over and it was learnt that the president announced his panel for the remaining seats who would take charge as office-bearers without going through the election process, the counsel said.
The petitioner’s counsel contended that the election was conducted in a clandestine manner against principles of natural justice and rules of the International Olympic Committee.
He prayed the court that the action of not holding election for the remaining seats be declared illegal and appointments made by the president also be declared null and void. However, the POA contended that the petitioner was present during the election.
The court after hearing the arguments of both parties today allowed the petition and declared the election illegal except for the office of president.